Handkerchief versus tissues: which is more hygienic

When you’re suffering from a cold or flu, should you use tissues or a handkerchief?
- byEmi Berry

13 Mar
2017

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Do you prefer using tissues over a hanky when you’re sick? Handkerchiefs certainly have their benefits. They’re environmentally friendly, as it takes three times the amount of energy to produce pulp to create virgin fibre tissues, compared to a cotton handkerchief.

Created by Kimberly-Clark in the early 1920’s, tissues were introduced to originally remove cold cream. However, it was reported that women were writing to the company, complaining their husbands were using the tissues to blow their nose into it. The rest is history.

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But in terms of hygiene, are tissues better than handkerchiefs? If you are suffering from a cold or the flu, then yes, tissues are a better option. The reason for this is you are essentially blowing nasal secretions containing the virus - that is causing your illness - into the tissue. As long as you throw that tissue into the bin (without re-using) and wash your hands, tissues are the most hygienic option. By using a handkerchief, you are increasing the chance of spreading the virus (not to yourself, as you already have it – but to those around you). Saliva doesn’t contain as much of the virus as nasal secretion, so by blowing your nose several times into a hanky, which is potentially already feeling a little ‘damp’, you are increasing the spread of virus when touching other items such as door knobs and computer keyboards with your ‘hanky hands’.

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So what about hayfever? If you prefer to use a hanky for hayfever, then go right ahead, as your nasal secretions aren’t riddled with a virus. However, it is still advisable to change your hanky on a regular basis if your nose is constantly running.